Snowboard Return Adventure

6:57 pm My eyes pop open. I have to return the snowboard! The
store closes at 8. Google says it’ll take 15 minutes to get there.
Plenty of time. I get dressed and walk to the car.

7:15 Remote’s not working. Weird. I use the key and start
driving.

7:20 I drive down a 35 mph local road. This doesn’t look familiar.

7:30 I’m lost. I’m getting increasingly pissed off as I waste
time doing random U-turns. There’s no wifi anywhere. I break down
and ask for directions.

7:41 Red light.

7:49 Red light.

7:53 Red light. I’m not going to make it by 8. I am fuming.

7:57 My breathing is shallow; I’m gripping the steering wheel
tight.

I decide to laugh.

What a ridiculous situation. I can’t believe I got lost. It was
supposed to take 15 minutes! Oh well, that’s $15 down the drain.
Next time wake up earlier.

7:59 The light turns green. I turn onto an expressway. I’m
suddenly driving at 60 mph. There are no cars in front of me.

8:07 I’m here! I see some guy exiting the store. They’re still
open!

I run out, praying the remote works. It does. I grab the board and
run into the store. Shit, wrong board.

I run back out, praying the remote works again. It does. I swap the
boards, run in and slam the board on the counter. “Didn’t you have
boots?” “It’s in the car! One minute!”

I run out of the store again. The remote ignores me for a second,
then opens the trunk out of pity. I grab the boots.

I run back to the store as someone was locking the door. He gives
me the I just want to go home look.

“I’m just returning the boots! I already returned the board!”

He sighs and lets me in.

I run to the rental counter and throw down the boots.

BEEP

BEEP

“Okay, you’re all set.”

And all it took was a change of attitude.